Lesson 7 Contents:

Learning Objectives

I. A Brief Review of Basic Keyword Searching

II. Boolean Logic: The use of OR and AND

III. Advanced Keyword Searching

IV. Key Points to Remember

Lesson Seven Quiz

Lesson Seven Exercise

I. A BRIEF REVIEW OF BASIC KEYWORD SEARCHING

Keyword searching is a method of searching a bibliographic database in which you use your own “keywords” to describe your topic rather than official subject headings. The computer will search for your terms in every field of the record – even the full-text of the article(s) if available.

In lessons 4 and 5, you were introduced to basic keyword searching, in which you searched a database using a single word or a multiple-word phrase. You also had a little practice combining keywords using the logical operator AND. This resulted in search statements such as “clothes AND psychology.”

This lesson introduces you to a more sophisticated method of keyword searching known as advanced keyword searching.